Candidate Ben Emery drops out of 4th District state Senate race

NEVADA CITY — Candidate Benjamin "Ben" Emery said Tuesday he was dropping out of the 4th District state Senate race because of what he called a potential conflict of interest relating to another candidate, Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Loma Rica.

Emery, a ranch manager from Nevada City, said he is on the board of directors of Hospitality House of the Foothills, a homeless shelter in Grass Valley.

That organization bought a new building with a state grant last year, he said. One of the group's committees has been working with Logue to resolve some issues with the state regarding the building.

At a meeting Monday night, Emery said, he was reminded of his organization's connection with Logue. He said it didn't seem right for him to be running against Logue when his organization was working with the assemblyman.

Unfortunately, Emery said, his name will appear on the ballot.

Emery, who did not state a party preference when he filed to run in the election, said he entered the campaign to give voters more choice.

He said the main issue that concerns him is the tremendous amount of money involved in political campaigns at the state and national levels.

Besides Logue, four other candidates remain in the race to fill the Senate seat left vacant when Doug LaMalfa resigned on Aug. 31.

They are former Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber; Jann Reed of Chico, a Chico Unified School District board of trustees member; Dan Levine of Chico, a graduate student; and Mickey Harrington, of Magalia, president of the Butte-Glenn Central Labor Council.